Disputing (1261) (dialogismos from diá = through or as a preposition to intensify meaning of + logizomai = reckon, take an inventory, conclude; source of our English dialogue) means literally reasoning through and so to think or reason with thoroughness and completeness, think out carefully, reason thoroughly, consider carefully, weighing. It refers to calculated consideration (good or bad as discussed below). It pictures one deliberating with one’s self which conveys the basic meaning of inner reasoning. Disputing implies a questioning mind and suggests an arrogant attitude by those who assume they’re always right. Arguing with others in the body of Christ is disruptive. That’s why Paul spent the first part of chapter 2 on humility. To dwell above, with saints we love, that will be grace and glory But to live below with saints we know, now that’s a different story! Dialogismos - 14x in 14v-Matt 15:19; Mark 7:21; Luke 2:35; 5:22; 6:8; 9:46, 47; 24:38; Rom 1:21; 14:1; 1Cor 3:20; Phil 2:14; 1Tim 2:8; Jas 2:4. NAS = argument, 1; disputing, 1; dissension, 1; doubts, 1; motives, 1; opinions, 1; reasonings, 2; speculations, 1; thoughts, 3; what...were thinking, 2 Dialogismos is used 11 times in the Septuagint (LXX) (Ps 40:5, 56:5, 92:5, 94:11, 139:2, 139:20, 146:4, Isa 59:7, Jer 4:14, Lam 3:60, 61) Dialogismos often means the perverse, vain thinking which contemplates destruction (Ps. 94:11), and is turned against God (Jer. 4:14; Isa. 59:7) and against the godly (Ps. 56:5). Commenting on Phil 2:14, MacArthur notes that dialogismos... soon developed the more specific ideas of questioning, doubting, or disputing the truth of a matter. In Romans 14:1, the word is used of passing judgment on another believer’s opinions and in 1 Timothy 2:8 it is rendered “dissension.” Whereas grumbling is essentially emotional, disputing is essentially intellectual. A person who continues to murmur and grumble against God will eventually argue and dispute with Him. (MacArthur, J. Philippians. Chicago: Moody Press) Dialogismos can be reflected outward and audibly (e.g., ‘discussion’, ‘argument’) or inward and inaudibly, (i.e. ‘consideration in oneself’, ‘thought’, ‘doubts’). It refers to an opinion and then to a deliberating and a questioning about what is true as in Luke 24:38. It is found in the Greek writings from Plato down where it referred to the thinking of a man deliberating with himself (Lk 2:25, 5:22, 6:8, 9:46ff, Ro 14:1). It was used to describe the reasoning of those who thought themselves wise (Ro 1:21, 1Cor 3:20). James 2:4 uses it to mean opinion referring to judges with evil thoughts or who follow perverse opinions or reprehensible principles. In a positive sense dialogismos means thoughts and in a negative it means disputes or arguments. NIDNTT notes that... In the NT dialogizomai (related verb) and dialogismos are always used with a slightly depreciatory connotation. The thoughts of the human heart do not necessarily lead, as the Greeks thought, to a knowledge of the truth (cf. 1 Cor. 1:21-25), but are evil (Mk. 7:21; Matt. 15:19), full of doubt and suspicion (Mk. 2:6, 8; Lk. 5:22; 6:8), moved by the passing moment (Lk. 3:15), full of greed (Lk. 12:17; 20:14), always concerned with the superficial (Mk. 8:16f.; Matt. 16:7f.) and full of sly calculation (Matt. 11:25; Mk. 11:31). (NIDNTT adds that) in Phil. 2:14 we have the questioning (dialogismos) which is the germ of apathy. (Brown, Colin, Editor. New International Dictionary of NT Theology. 1986. Zondervan) (Bolding added) The Exegetical Dictionary notes that... Even when dialogismos has a specialized use, the essential connection with the general NT meaning of doubting or calculating consideration is retained. (Balz, H. R., & Schneider, G. . Exegetical Dictionary of the New Testament. Grand Rapids, Mich.: Eerdmans) Luke illustrates the uses of dialogismos... But Jesus, aware of their reasonings (dialogismos), answered and said to them, "Why are you reasoning (dialogizomai = verb form) in your hearts? (Luke 5:22) (Comment: In the majority of occurrences of the verb dialogizomai is used for the deliberations of Jesus’ opponents, Mk 2:6, 8, or the interpersonal deliberations of the disciples, Mk 8:16ff) But He (Jesus) knew what they (his opponents) were thinking (dialogismos), and He said to the man with the withered hand, "Rise and come forward!" And he rose and came forward. (Luke 6:8) And an argument (dialogismos) arose among them (the disciples) as to which of them might be the greatest. But Jesus, knowing what they were thinking (dialogismos) in their heart, took a child and stood him by His side (Luke 9:46-47) And He said to them, "Why are you (disciples at His post-resurrection appearance) troubled, and why do doubts (dialogismos) arise in your hearts? (Luke 24:38) (Here dialogismos denotes unspoken thoughts concerning the truth of what they see, hence ‘questionings’, ‘doubts’) Vine notes that dialogismos is... chiefly in the N.T. in an evil sense, of reasonings that are the outcome of self-will, reasonings of the natural mind in independence of God. So in the LXX (e.g., Lam. 3:60), “imaginations.”...Dialogismos sometimes means inward questioning, sometimes dispute... the inward reasonings which find expression in controversy and contention. (Vine, W. Collected Writings of W. E. Vine. Nashville: Thomas Nelson ) As alluded to above, in the NT, dialogismos is used mainly in an evil sense describing reasoning that is the outcome of self-will. Here it describes reasoning of the natural mind in independence of God. In (see note Romans 1:21) it denotes the false notions about God, entertained in opposition to the facts revealed concerning Him in nature. We see this in Matthew's use... "For out of the heart come evil thoughts (dialogismos), murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, slanders. These are the things which defile the man; but to eat with unwashed hands does not defile the man." (Mt 15:19-20) Barclay adds that... dialogismos describes useless, and sometimes ill-natured, disputing and doubting. In the Christian life there is the serenity and the certainty of perfect certainty and perfect trust. (Regarding the use of dialogismos in 1Ti 2:8 Barclay comments) "The word used is dialogismos, which can mean both an argument and a doubt. If we take it in the sense of argument, it simply repeats what has gone before and restates the fact that bitterness and quarrels and venomous debates are a hindrance to prayer. It is better to take it in the sense of doubt. Before prayer is answered there must be belief that God will answer." Prayer, Vincent says, “is to be without the element of skeptical criticism, whether of God’s character and dealings, or of the character and behavior of those for whom prayer is offered.” (Barclay, W: The Daily Study Bible Series, Rev. ed. Philadelphia: The Westminster Press) MacArthur nicely sums up Paul's command in Philippians 2:14 writing that... Every circumstance of life is to be accepted willingly and joyfully, without murmuring, complaint, or disappointment, much less resentment. There is no exception. There should never be either emotional grumbling or intellectual disputing. It is always sinful for believers to complain about anything the Lord calls them to do or about any circumstance which He sovereignly allows. Whether the task is difficult or easy, whether the situation involves a blessing or a trial, negative attitudes are forbidden. As he testifies later in this letter, Paul’s own spiritual growth had led him to enjoy this attitude: “I have learned to be content in whatever circumstances I am. I know how to get along with humble means, and I also know how to live in prosperity; in any and every circumstance I have learned the secret of being filled and going hungry, both of having abundance and suffering need” (Php 4:11,12-see note Php 4:11-12). His example shows that such righteous behavior is possible. (MacArthur, J. Philippians. Chicago: Moody Press) ><> ><> ><> COMPLAINING... DON'T! (Instead 1Th 5:18-note) Don’t complain; the more you complain about things the more things you will have to complain about. (E. Stanley Jones) Complaining about our lot in life might seem quite innocent in itself, but God takes it personally. (Erwin W. Lutzer) If Christians spent as much time praying as they do grumbling, they would have nothing to grumble about. Murmur at nothing: if our ills are irreparable, it is ungrateful; if remediless, it is in vain. A Christian builds his fortitude on a better foundation than stoicism; he is pleased with everything that happens because he knows it could not happen unless it had first pleased God, and that which pleases him must be the best. (Charles Caleb Colton) Don't complain and talk about all your problems--80 percent of people don't care; the other 20 percent will think you deserve them. (Mark Twain) You will find that, as a rule, those who complain about the way the ball bounces are usually the ones who dropped it. Whenever you find yourself disposed to uneasiness or murmuring at anything that is the effect of God’s providence, look upon yourself as denying either the wisdom or goodness of God. (William Law) I complained because I had no shoes until I met a man who had no feet. (Arab proverb) To swear is wicked because it is taking God’s name in vain. To murmur is likewise wicked for it takes God’s promises in vain. When in deep water, it’s a good idea to keep your mouth shut. There is a difference between groaning and grumbling. Spurgeon offers an antidote for a complaining, murmuring spirit writing that... If we complained less, and praised more, we should be happier, and God would be more glorified. Let us daily praise God for common mercies—common as we frequently call them, and yet so priceless, that when deprived of them we are ready to perish. Let us bless God for the eyes with which we behold the sun, for the health and strength to walk abroad, for the bread we eat, for the raiment we wear. Let us praise him that we are not cast out among the hopeless, or confined amongst the guilty; let us thank him for liberty, for friends, for family associations and comforts; let us praise him, in fact, for everything which we receive from his bounteous hand, for we deserve little, and yet are most plenteously endowed. But, beloved, the sweetest and the loudest note in our songs of praise should be of redeeming love. God’s redeeming acts towards his chosen are for ever the favourite themes of their praise. If we know what redemption means, let us not withhold our sonnets of thanksgiving. We have been redeemed from the power of our corruptions, uplifted from the depth of sin in which we were naturally plunged. We have been led to the cross of Christ—our shackles of guilt have been broken off; we are no longer slaves, but children of the living God, and can antedate the period when we shall be presented before the throne without spot or wrinkle or any such thing. Even now by faith we wave the palm-branch and wrap ourselves about with the fair linen which is to be our everlasting array, and shall we not unceasingly give thanks to the Lord our Redeemer? Child of God, canst thou be silent? Awake, awake, ye inheritors of glory, and lead your captivity captive, as ye cry with David, “Bless the Lord, O my soul: and all that is within me, bless his holy name.” Let the new month begin with new songs. (Spurgeon, C. H. Morning and Evening: Daily readings December 1, Evening) Spurgeon also once said that... A heavy wagon was being dragged along a country lane by a team of oxen. The axles groaned and creaked terribly, when the oxen turning around thus addressed the wheels, “Hey there, why do you make so much noise? We bear all the labor, and we—not you—ought to cry out!” Those complain first in our churches who have the least to do. The gift of grumbling is largely dispensed among those who have no other talents, or who keep what they have wrapped up in a napkin. Spurgeon also said... The very word murmur, how simple it is, made up to two infantile sounds—mur mur. No sense in it, no wit in it, no thought in it. It is the cry rather of a brute than of a man. Murmur—just a double groan. Ten minutes' praying is better than a year's murmuring. As long as a man is alive and out of hell, he cannot have any cause to complain. On the humorous side of complaining and grumbling is a story about the cowboy who... ...was driving down a dirt road, his dog riding in back of the pickup truck, his faithful horse in the trailer behind. He failed to negotiate a curve and had a terrible accident. Sometime later, a highway patrol officer came on the scene. An animal lover, he saw the horse first. Realizing the serious nature of its injuries, he drew his service revolver and put the animal out of his misery. He walked around the accident and found the dog, also hurt critically. He couldn't bear to hear it whine in pain, so he ended the dog's suffering as well. Finally he located the cowboy --who suffered multiple fractures--off in the weeds. "Hey, are you okay?" the cop asked. The cowboy took one look at the smoking revolver in the trooper's hand and quickly replied, "Never felt better!" (Source Unknown) ><>><>><> A BAD HABIT Most people have a bad habit or two. Some habits are just irritating, such as talking too much or too fast. Others are much more serious. Consider, for example, the bad habit developed by the people of ancient Israel. They had just been delivered from slavery (Ex 14:30), and they ought to have been thankful. Instead, they started to complain to Moses and Aaron, "Oh, that we had died by the hand of the LORD in the land of Egypt!" (Ex 16:3). We read in Exodus 17:1, 2, 3ff that their complaining escalated into a quarrel. In reality, their complaint was with God, but they picked a fight with Moses because he was the leader. They said, "Why is it you have brought us up out of Egypt, to kill us and our children and our livestock with thirst?" (Ex 17:3). The people even began questioning if God was really with them (v.7). Yet He always met their needs. If we're honest, we would have to admit that we sometimes complain when God isn't coming through for us the way we want. We accuse Him of being absent or disinterested. But when our heart is concerned with God's purposes rather than our own, we will be patient and trust Him to provide all that we need. Then we won't develop the bad habit of complaining. —Albert Lee (Copyright RBC Ministries, Grand Rapids, MI. Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved) Those Christians who with thankful hearts Praise God throughout the day Won't tend to grumble and complain When things don't go their way. —Branon To conquer the habit of complaining, count your blessings. Philippians 2:15 so that you will prove (2SAMS) yourselves to be blameless and innocent, children of God above reproach in the midst of a crooked and perverse (RPPFSF) generation, among whom you appear (2PPMI) as lights in the world (NASB: Lockman) Greek: hina genesthe (2SAMS) amemptoi kai akeraioi, tekna theou amoma meson geneas skolias kai diestrammenes, (RPPFSF) en ois phainesthe (2PPMI) os phosteres en kosmo, Amplified: That you may show yourselves to be blameless and guileless, innocent and uncontaminated, children of God without blemish (faultless, unrebukable) in the midst of a crooked and wicked generation [spiritually perverted and perverse], among whom you are seen as bright lights (stars or beacons shining out clearly) in the [dark] world, (Amplified Bible - Lockman) NLT: so that no one can speak a word of blame against you. You are to live clean, innocent lives as children of God in a dark world full of crooked and perverse people. Let your lives shine brightly before them. (NLT - Tyndale House) Phillips: so that you may be God's children, blameless, sincere and wholesome, living in a warped and diseased world, and shining there like lights in a dark place. (Phillips: Touchstone) Wuest: to the end that you may become those who are deserving of no censure, free from fault or defect, and guileless in their simplicity, God’s children without blemish, in the midst of a perverse and distorted generation among whom you appear as luminaries in the world, (Eerdmans) Young's Literal: that ye may become blameless and harmless, children of God, unblemished in the midst of a generation crooked and perverse, among whom ye do appear as luminaries in the world, SO THAT YOU WILL PROVE YOURSELVES TO BE BLAMELESS (unable to be censured) AND INNOCENT: hina genesthe (2SAMS) amemptoi kai kai akeraioi: (Lk 1:6; 1Co 1:8; Eph 5:27; 1Th 5:23; 1Ti 3:2,10; 5:7; Titus 1:6; 2Pet 3:14) (Mt 10:16; Ro 16:19; Heb 7:26) So that (2443) (hina) signifies the conclusion of the previous is being stated. By avoiding complaining and arguing within their own body, the Philippian saints may become or show themselves as blameless (outward conduct) and innocent (inward character) which speaks of the testimony of the church in the darkness of this age. A complaining Christian is a poor witness. A disputing church is a poor witness. Rejoicing Christians and joyful churches are powerful witnesses. Another way this "conclusion" might be understood is that "you should refrain from complaining and arguing so that you may be innocent and pure." Prove (1096) (ginomai) come to acquire or experience a state. “Blameless” and “innocent” concern the intrinsic character of a person himself. Continually holding fast (Php 2:16) to pure milk of the Word of Life (by believing and obeying the Word learned) will help ensure that we remain blameless and above reproach. We have to work out what God has "worked" within us!